Three's Company, The Ropers and Three's a Crowd

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

Nice! Is the tag scene for Ralph's Rival (Season 4) still missing?!!

I'm not as familiar with that one. Can you specify what I'm looking for, and I can check?

I was very young when the show went from Three's Company to Three's A Crowd, so something from a few years before that is not something that I will recall as specifically from the original broadcast.

[Spasmo]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

I ordered and received the new VEI set. And given that it includes Three's A Crowd, I knew there was on thing that I had to check right away.

When the final episode of Three's Company originally aired (with the ending of it setting up and leading into Three's A Crowd), it ends with the show title appearing on screen and changing from "Three's Company" to "Three's A Crowd."

The text for this is typically left off of reruns and the like. And while I don't recall offhand for sure, I assume that it likely was not included in the Anchor Bay release.

Well, I am happy to say that it is included on this set. Here are some screen captures that I took of it.

I know you're probably still going through it but how does it look overall?

[GeoffOliver]

Threes Company is one of my favorite sitcoms, even though it declined quite a bit as the seasons went by. Happy it's back on physical media. I owned Seasons 1-2, but never got around to getting the rest or the complete set. This new one seems like a no-brainer, especially since it includes Threes a Crowd and The Ropers. I never thought those would ever come out since there is almost no market for them outside a completionist set like this (in fact, that's why DHT didn't license them to Anchor Bay back in the day).

[cloggedmind]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

I'm not as familiar with that one. Can you specify what I'm looking for, and I can check?

I was very young when the show went from Three's Company to Three's A Crowd, so something from a few years before that is not something that I will recall as specifically from the original broadcast.

In reruns the show ends with the gang in Furley's apartment after he has to tell the truth- that he and Chrissy are not in fact a couple and that he doesn't own the apartment or "that many" oil wells. What originally followed was a tag at the kids' apartment where the kitchen sink is supposedly fixed but still spits water in Jack's face when he turns the faucet. That scene has been missing since it first aired due to audio problems on the master tape.

It does, however, turn up in the Italian dubbed broadcasts but, of course, there is no English soundtrack.

Three's Company Technically Lost Scene (Italian Dub) - YouTube

The disc set I ordered is taking one of those fancy post office trips up and down the Eastern seaboard for no reason, so if it gets here it might be late January. It goes from GA, to FL, to NC, to NJ, then back to FL.. rinse and repeat.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

In reruns the show ends with the gang in Furley's apartment after he has to tell the truth- that he and Chrissy are not in fact a couple and that he doesn't own the apartment or "that many" oil wells. What originally followed was a tag at the kids' apartment where the kitchen sink is supposedly fixed but still spits water in Jack's face when he turns the faucet. That scene has been missing since it first aired due to audio problems on the master tape.

It does, however, turn up in the Italian dubbed broadcasts but, of course, there is no English soundtrack.

I just checked, and that scene is missing. So it is not fixed on this release.

Originally Posted by Spasmo

I know you're probably still going through it but how does it look overall?

Overall it seems fine. But I've just been checking a few specific discs on my laptop. I'm not going through everything.

While I'm not doing a side by side comparison, I would assume the quality on the original Anchor Bay release is likely going to be better on average simply due to less compression.

Except for Season 1 (which was a single disc since it is a VERY short season), all of the Anchor Bay season sets were 4 discs each.

On this new VEI set, Season 1 is a single disc again, but all of the other seasons are 3 discs each, some of which have 9 episodes on a single disc. It's not "the end of the world" and is par for the course with many old TV show DVD releases these days. But if you do have the old sets, keep them. Though with that in mind, I found something interesting about the final disc of Season 8.

[Show spoiler]When I was checking on the final episode of the series to see about that title transition that I mentioned earlier, I was looking up old reviews of the Achor Bay set to see if any of them mentioned anything about that one way or the other (but no luck in that regard). But one review did have the breakdown of episodes on each disc. It turns out that this VEI set and the previous Anchor Bay set have the same number of episodes on the final disc of Season 8. I don't know if there will be a major difference in overall quality, but if doing a complete series rewatch and including the spin-off, it would make it easy to mostly watch the Anchor Bay sets and then popping in the VEI disc for those last few episodes.

The Ropers is 4 discs total: 1 disc for Season 1 (which is also only 6 episodes), and 3 discs for Season 2. Three's A Crowd is 3 discs total.


The packaging is... interesting....
It is one huge plastic case with no disc hubs. There's just this opening inside, and the discs are in a couple of booklets of disc-sleeves that just sit inside of it.


What I do like about this set is that (similar to Mill Creek, in one of the few things I can compliment them about) the episode titles and bonus features are all listed on the disc labels, themselves. This is something that I wish had been a standard with most TV show disc releases from the get-go. Sure, it is nice when there is a booklet or info inside of a case or whatever with everything listed and maybe a more detailed breakdown of things, but there is still a convenience to having that info on the discs, themselves.

[Spasmo]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

I just checked, and that scene is missing. So it is not fixed on this release.



Overall it seems fine. But I've just been checking a few specific discs on my laptop. I'm not going through everything.

While I'm not doing a side by side comparison, I would assume the quality on the original Anchor Bay release is likely going to be better on average simply due to less compression.

Except for Season 1 (which was a single disc since it is a VERY short season), all of the Anchor Bay season sets were 4 discs each.

On this new VEI set, Season 1 is a single disc again, but all of the other seasons are 3 discs each, some of which have 9 episodes on a single disc. It's not "the end of the world" and is par for the course with many old TV show DVD releases these days. But if you do have the old sets, keep them. Though with that in mind, I found something interesting about the final disc of Season 8.

[Show spoiler]When I was checking on the final episode of the series to see about that title transition that I mentioned earlier, I was looking up old reviews of the Achor Bay set to see if any of them mentioned anything about that one way or the other (but no luck in that regard). But one review did have the breakdown of episodes on each disc. It turns out that this VEI set and the previous Anchor Bay set have the same number of episodes on the final disc of Season 8. I don't know if there will be a major difference in overall quality, but if doing a complete series rewatch and including the spin-off, it would make it easy to mostly watch the Anchor Bay sets and then popping in the VEI disc for those last few episodes.

The Ropers is 4 discs total: 1 disc for Season 1 (which is also only 6 episodes), and 3 discs for Season 2. Three's A Crowd is 3 discs total.


The packaging is... interesting....
It is one huge plastic case with no disc hubs. There's just this opening inside, and the discs are in a couple of booklets of disc-sleeves that just sit inside of it.


What I do like about this set is that (similar to Mill Creek, in one of the few things I can compliment them about) the episode titles and bonus features are all listed on the disc labels, themselves. This is something that I wish I had been a standard with most TV show disc releases from the get-go. Sure, it is nice when there is a booklet or info inside of a case or whatever with everything listed and maybe a more detailed breakdown of things, but there is still a convenience to having that info on the discs, themselves.

This x10000000! Drives me nuts trying to find which episodes are on a certain disc sometimes. I remember getting some Law and Order sets back in the late 2000s which didn't have booklets, titles on discs or on the sleeve so there was absolutely no indication what the episodes were, let alone where. Would instantly send me in a rage.

Thanks for the feedback on the set. Sounds like the Ropers and Three's a Crowd are pretty spread out. Do the episode credits for Three's Company, especially in the early seasons, look like the full original broadcast ones? I know for syndication they cut them down. For example, season two has a short instrumental montage after the names and before the final chorus.

[cloggedmind]

I appreciate you checking and giving the rundown of this set!

!!!!!
[BIG EDIT, here folks!] If you use these VEI discs in any player that isn't a clamp-style, sliding tray loader, BEWARE!! I've just discovered that some, not all but some of the center hubs are pressed too high to fit pc drives and WILL drag and scratch around the plastic housing of a pc drive. I've had a few like this before, such as in The Rifleman sets. Not sure of the process, but it's like the discs are pressed upside down? You'll feel it if you get one that doesn't quite snap onto the spindle properly. If that happens, give it a lil' nudge/spin and see if it rubs before you close that disc slot! Save you a lot of scratchin'!!
!!!!!

While waiting for my set to show up I checked the Anchor Bay Series 8 episode, "Friends and Lovers"-- it has a runtime of 48:33 and does retain the animated "Three's A Crowd, Premiering Next Week" caption with the little leitmotif jingle that trails straight into the credits, just like the VEI version.

In addition, just for those not familiar, this last episode is usually cut into two parts in reruns, losing most of the moving scenes with Larry complaining, "Cinderella, Cinderella!" and the stuff like the stereo falling out the bottom of the box (of which the still image is always shown in the syndication credits, but the scene gets cut for time). So it looks like that episode was presented in full on both sets, minus the mid-show and end network bumpers.

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

I just checked, and that scene is missing. So it is not fixed on this release.



Overall it seems fine. But I've just been checking a few specific discs on my laptop. I'm not going through everything.

While I'm not doing a side by side comparison, I would assume the quality on the original Anchor Bay release is likely going to be better on average simply due to less compression.

Except for Season 1 (which was a single disc since it is a VERY short season), all of the Anchor Bay season sets were 4 discs each.

On this new VEI set, Season 1 is a single disc again, but all of the other seasons are 3 discs each, some of which have 9 episodes on a single disc. It's not "the end of the world" and is par for the course with many old TV show DVD releases these days. But if you do have the old sets, keep them. Though with that in mind, I found something interesting about the final disc of Season 8.

[Show spoiler]When I was checking on the final episode of the series to see about that title transition that I mentioned earlier, I was looking up old reviews of the Achor Bay set to see if any of them mentioned anything about that one way or the other (but no luck in that regard). But one review did have the breakdown of episodes on each disc. It turns out that this VEI set and the previous Anchor Bay set have the same number of episodes on the final disc of Season 8. I don't know if there will be a major difference in overall quality, but if doing a complete series rewatch and including the spin-off, it would make it easy to mostly watch the Anchor Bay sets and then popping in the VEI disc for those last few episodes.

The Ropers is 4 discs total: 1 disc for Season 1 (which is also only 6 episodes), and 3 discs for Season 2. Three's A Crowd is 3 discs total.


The packaging is... interesting....
It is one huge plastic case with no disc hubs. There's just this opening inside, and the discs are in a couple of booklets of disc-sleeves that just sit inside of it.


What I do like about this set is that (similar to Mill Creek, in one of the few things I can compliment them about) the episode titles and bonus features are all listed on the disc labels, themselves. This is something that I wish had been a standard with most TV show disc releases from the get-go. Sure, it is nice when there is a booklet or info inside of a case or whatever with everything listed and maybe a more detailed breakdown of things, but there is still a convenience to having that info on the discs, themselves.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

I ordered and received the new VEI set. And given that it includes Three's A Crowd, I knew there was on thing that I had to check right away.

When the final episode of Three's Company originally aired (with the ending of it setting up and leading into Three's A Crowd), it ends with the show title appearing on screen and changing from "Three's Company" to "Three's A Crowd."

The text for this is typically left off of reruns and the like. And while I don't recall offhand for sure, I assume that it likely was not included in the Anchor Bay release.

Well, I am happy to say that it is included on this set. Here are some screen captures that I took of it.

Can't see any screencaptures (just a blank space). Yet when I went to click on Quote, I can see three picture links. Thanks for your contribution(s) regarding the VEI boxset.

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

The packaging is... interesting....
It is one huge plastic case with no disc hubs. There's just this opening inside, and the discs are in a couple of booklets of disc-sleeves that just sit inside of it.


What I do like about this set is that (similar to Mill Creek, in one of the few things I can compliment them about) the episode titles and bonus features are all listed on the disc labels, themselves. This is something that I wish had been a standard with most TV show disc releases from the get-go. Sure, it is nice when there is a booklet or info inside of a case or whatever with everything listed and maybe a more detailed breakdown of things, but there is still a convenience to having that info on the discs, themselves.

Of the VEI titles I've got, the majority of them have the episode titles on the discs, and of the more recent ones the packaging design regarding the discs is the same as or similar to what you've described, a large plastic case with a compartment on the inside which holds the discs in gauze or gauze-style sleeves.

[JT2]

Sorry of this was already asked, but any chance of these three complete shows coming to digital yet? Or is the DVD the only way to go? Thanks!

[drb999]

This thread makes me miss John Ritter. A comedy legend.

[sa5150]

Sounds like if they used the same transfers and compressed them even more , then this set is crap . Your essentially paying $80 for the inclusion the of "the ropers" . Three's a crowd is one of the the worst tv show spinoffs ever from a legendary comedy show (one of the best top 10 ever) I can download the ropers for free .

[darin1234]

Are the dvds in the original 480 60i (interlaced) format or have they been deinterlaced to 30fps? The VEI “Gimme a Break” set included 30p video on the discs so not sure of their track record.

[fixmejesus]

Originally Posted by darin1234

Are the dvds in the original 480 60i (interlaced) format or have they been deinterlaced to 30fps? The VEI “Gimme a Break” set included 30p video on the discs so not sure of their track record.

Whatever it is, it looks like bad permanent deinterlacing. You can see it in the lips when they talk. Worse than the original set.

[mar3o]

I just learned about the new box set.

I already own the original season releases. $70 is a lot to re-buy the show when I already own it, just to get The Ropers and Three's a Crowd. Plus I hate sleeves, especially when DVDs have no scratch protection. But I'm interested in adding the other series to the collection, especially The Ropers.

My biggest concern is the quality. This set has 26 discs I believe? The old individual sets contain a total of 29 discs. Plus this set has 2 1/2 more seasons added. That's 2 1/2 more seasons packed into 3 less discs.

7 of these new discs are made up of the two new series, leaving 19 discs to hold what was previously on 26.

But how much space was used previously plays a part in this. I just popped a random disc from my old sets into my PC drive just to see the size of the disc, and it weighed in at roughly 7.5GB. That leaves about 1 GB of empty space on the DVD. If that's how all the DVDs are encoded, that's a total of 29GB of unused space on the old discs. That could go a long way towards housing these other new seasons. So maybe the episodes are as heavily compressed as you might think.

If they encoded the series this time at roughly the same bitrate, and just put more episodes on each disc to fill the space better (1Gb of empty space on each disc could easily hold another episode at the same bitrate), then the episodes might not look any worse or much worse than the old sets. But if they did re-encode them at a lower bitrate because they still needed more space to pack all of this into 26 discs, then that's what I'd worry about. I'd hate to re-buy this whole set just to end up watching all the old discs anyways because they look better.

A few comments on Amazon claim the new DVDs don't look as good as the old ones, so I wonder just how the bitrate compares. How much space is used on these newer discs if the old ones left 1GB empty on each disc? Again though, I only checked a single disc - maybe other discs were filled more to capacity? I'd have to check more discs to get a better average.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by fixmejesus

Whatever it is, it looks like bad permanent deinterlacing. You can see it in the lips when they talk. Worse than the original set.

Oof. Yeah, this set will probably be a pass for me. I don't like the sound of what I've read on this page. I remember enjoying The Ropers for a while but the only thing I remember about Three's a Crowd is that I stopped watching it early on, and I seem to remember it being pretty boring.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by darin1234

Are the dvds in the original 480 60i (interlaced) format or have they been deinterlaced to 30fps? The VEI “Gimme a Break” set included 30p video on the discs so not sure of their track record.

Is season 1 dvd set of Gimme a break by Universal in the proper 60i ?

[WonkaBedknobs83]

Why was the supporting cast unhappy about being shut out of the sequel series when both the spinoffs followed the continuity of the spinoffs of the UK original? Based on that, they should have expected it.

[bobbyh64]

Is the picture quality of this set definitely worse than the Anchor Bay releases?

[GeoffOliver]

Originally Posted by WonkaBedknobs83

Why was the supporting cast unhappy about being shut out of the sequel series when both the spinoffs followed the continuity of the spinoffs of the UK original? Based on that, they should have expected it.

Joyce DeWitt was unhappy that the show was ending without anyone telling her. She found out by accidentally walking in on the auditions for Jack’s new roommate. There was a lot of backstage drama with this show, almost on the level of Charmed and Sex & the City.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

VEI now has a stand alone release of The Ropers up on its site for those who don't want to double-dip on the whole series of Three's Company.